Akrūra, overwhelmed by devotion, gazed upon the Lord and spoke with reverence. He beheld the cosmic form of the Lord, recognizing the divine presence in every element of creation: the fire as His mouth, the earth as His feet, the sun as His eye, and the sky as His navel. The chariot was His heart, the directions His ears, the heavens His head, Indra and the gods His arms, the oceans His belly, the wind His breath, and strength itself was His energy. He saw the trees and herbs as the hair of the Lord’s body, the vegetation as the hair on His head, the clouds as His bones and nails, the mountains as His teeth, the blinking of His eyes as day and night. Prajapati was His mind, rain His generative organ, and virility belonged to Him alone. Akrūra realized that in the imperishable Self—the Supreme Person—all worlds and their guardians, and all living beings, were established, just as aquatic creatures gather in water, or as gnats assemble on a fig tree, or as thoughts arise in the mind. He praised the Lord for the countless forms He assumes in the world, each purifying the worlds and inspiring them to sing His glory. With deep reverence, Akrūra offered salutations to the primal Fish who moved in the waters of dissolution, to the Lord with the head of a horse, the slayer of Madhu and Kaitabha, to the vast One who supports without limit and lifted the Mandara mountain, and to the Boar who delights in uplifting the earth. He bowed to the wondrous Lion who removes the fear of the virtuous, and to Vāmana, who traversed the three worlds. He offered salutations to the Lord of the Bhṛgus, destroyer of the prideful Kṣatriyas, and to the best of the Raghus, who destroyed Rāvaṇa. He honored Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, the Lords of the Sātvatas. He saluted Buddha, the pure one who deluded the Daityas and Dānavas, and to Kalki, the destroyer of impure and unrighteous rulers. Akrūra confessed that the world of living beings is bewildered by the Lord’s māyā, wandering the paths of karma, grasping at false notions of ‘I’ and ‘mine’. He admitted his own delusion, wandering among body, children, home, wealth, and relatives, mistaking these dreamlike illusions for truth. His mind, confused by opposites and immersed in darkness, could not discern what was truly dear, being attached to impermanent and painful things. He compared himself to an ignorant person who leaves water hidden by vegetation to chase a mirage, turning away from the Lord and pursuing illusions. His pitiable mind, struck down by desires and actions, was unable to restrain itself, carried away by the unruly senses. In humility, Akrūra declared that he had come to the Lord’s feet, which are difficult for the unworthy to attain, and considered even this grace to be the Lord’s doing. He acknowledged that liberation from birth and death comes when the mind is devoted to proper worship of the Lotus-naveled One. He saluted the One who is pure consciousness, the cause of all certitude, the Lord of Puruṣa and Pradhāna, Brahman of infinite power, Vāsudeva the destroyer of all beings, and Hṛṣīkeśa, praying for protection as a surrendered soul. Thus concluded the fortieth chapter, “Akrūra’s Praise,” in the first half of the tenth book of the glorious Bhagavata Mahapurana, the scripture of the supreme renunciates. Śuka continued: As Akrūra offered his praise, the Lord revealed His cosmic form in the water. Then, like an actor concluding his performance, Kṛṣṇa withdrew the vision once more. When Akrūra saw the vision vanish, he quickly emerged from the water, completed his necessary duties, and, astonished, returned to the chariot. Hṛṣīkeśa asked him, “What wondrous thing did you see—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—that you appear so amazed?” Akrūra replied, “Whatever marvels exist—on earth, in the sky, or in the water—are all found in You, the soul of the universe. What could I have seen that is not already known to me? Wherever all wonders are found, seeing You, O Brahman, what marvel could I have witnessed here?” Having spoken thus, the son of Gāndinī urged the chariot onward. By the end of the day, he brought Rāma and Kṛṣṇa to Mathurā. Along the way, villagers gathered, their hearts delighted upon seeing the sons of Vasudeva; they could not turn their gaze away. Meanwhile, the residents of Vraja, led by Nanda and the cowherds, arrived at the city’s gardens and waited there in anticipation. The Lord, master of the universe, met them, greeting Akrūra with a warm smile and taking his extended hand in His own. Kṛṣṇa said, “You should enter the city and your house ahead of us, accompanied by your chariot. We will remain here for now, and then come to see the city.” Akrūra replied, “O Lord, I will not enter Mathurā without You both. Do not abandon me, O master, for I am Your devotee and You are fond of Your devotees. Come, let us go to our homes and make them blessed, O Acyuta, together with Your elder brother, the cowherds, and Your dearest friends. Sanctify the homes of us householders with the dust of Your feet; by its purity, even the ancestors, the sacrificial fires, and the gods are never fully satisfied. After washing Your pair of feet, the great Bali became worthy of praise, attained incomparable prosperity, and the ultimate devoted path. The waters from washing Your feet purified the three worlds; Śiva placed them on his head, and the sons of Sagara ascended to heaven. O God of gods, Lord of the universe, whose hearing and praise are holy, O foremost among the Yadus, praised by the best of hymns, O Nārāyaṇa, I bow to You.” The Blessed Lord assured him, “I will come to your house, accompanied by the noble ones. After slaying the wicked Yadu king, I will bring joy to my friends.” Thus addressed by the Lord, Akrūra, though troubled in mind, entered the city, reported his task to Kaṃsa, and went to his house. Then, in the afternoon, Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Saṅkarṣaṇa and surrounded by cowherds eager to see the city, entered Mathurā. He saw the city adorned with lofty crystal gates, grand doorways with golden arches, copper-plated walls, deep moats difficult to cross, and gardens and groves enhancing its beauty. Mathurā was decorated with palaces having golden spires and balconies, rows of assembly halls and mansions, and balustrades and altars inlaid with beryl, diamonds, spotless sapphires, coral, pearls, and emeralds. Thus unfolded the arrival of the Lord, His companions, and the devotees, all united in devotion and wonder in the splendid city of Mathurā.